- Area
- Highlands and Islands
- Postcode district
- KW15
- Nation
- Scotland
- Main grant
- Home Energy Scotland, up to £7,500
- Survey
- Free for installation enquiries
What to know about heat pump grants in Kirkwall
Homes around Kirkwall range from older terraces to newer estates, and each needs a different design. That is why we survey before we quote.
For landlords with property in Kirkwall, we explain the funding position for each home before quoting. Oil and LPG-heated homes around Kirkwall can have their options set out alongside the cost of a full system.
Heat pump funding depends on which UK nation you live in, so we confirm what applies to your home and handle the grant steps alongside your quote.
- Anyone unsure which scheme applies and wanting it checked before committing
- Scottish homeowners applying through Home Energy Scotland, including rural and island homes
What's included
- MCS certificate and handover documents after installation
- Quote and technical details for Home Energy Scotland applications (Scotland)
- Eligibility check for the scheme that covers your nation
- Installation scheduled around your grant confirmation or funding offer
- Written quote showing the full price and any grant deduction
We confirm at the survey which funding route a home in Kirkwall is likely to qualify for.
Grants and rules for heat pumps in Scotland
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not apply in Scotland. Instead, homeowners in Kirkwall can apply to Home Energy Scotland for a grant of up to £7,500 towards a heat pump, with up to £1,500 more for eligible rural and island homes, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to £7,500. You need a written funding offer before any work starts.
Installing heat pumps is zero-rated for VAT across the UK until 31 March 2027. Scotland has its own permitted development rules for air source heat pumps and its own building standards, so we confirm what applies to your Kirkwall property at survey.
Grants and VAT across the UK
| Nation | Main support for heat pumps | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| England | Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 (£9,000 replacing oil or LPG, 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027; £2,500 air-to-air) | MCS-certified installer applies; deducted from your quote |
| Wales | Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 (£9,000 replacing oil or LPG, 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027) | Same scheme and rules as England |
| Scotland | Home Energy Scotland grant up to £7,500, plus up to £1,500 rural uplift; interest-free loan up to £7,500 | You apply; written offer needed before work starts |
| Northern Ireland | No dedicated heat pump grant for homeowners at present | Some heat pumps funded through NISEP in the past |
Heat pump installation is zero-rated for VAT across the UK, including Northern Ireland, until 31 March 2027. Scheme figures as at October 2026; check gov.uk, Ofgem or Home Energy Scotland before relying on them.
Winter daylight and heating in Kirkwall
Kirkwall has about 6 hours 11 minutes of daylight at midwinter against 18 hours 30 minutes in midsummer. Heat pumps are designed to keep working well below freezing, but the design temperature for the survey is set for local conditions, not an average day.
The steps for heat pump grants in Kirkwall
- Send your postcode and a few details, or use the guide price tool.
- A surveyor visits your Kirkwall home, measures every room and checks where the outdoor unit can go.
- You receive a heat loss design and a fixed written quote, with any grant shown where it applies.
- Installers fit the unit, cylinder and any radiator changes, typically over 2–4 days on site.
- The system is commissioned, set up with weather compensation and handed over with the paperwork.
Kirkwall is in an area we cover by arrangement, so survey dates and any travel costs are confirmed individually in your quote.
Heat pump grants in Kirkwall: questions
How long does a heat pump survey take in Kirkwall?
A home survey in Kirkwall usually takes one to two hours. The surveyor measures every heated room, checks windows, walls and radiators, and looks at where the outdoor unit and cylinder can go.
How long does installation take in Kirkwall?
Most installations take 2–4 days on site. Jobs with several radiator changes or new pipework take longer, and your quote for a Kirkwall home states the expected time.
What size heat pump does a Kirkwall home need?
It depends on the heat loss, not the postcode. As a rough guide, a 3 bedroom semi often needs 6–9 kW, but the room-by-room survey sets the actual size for your Kirkwall home.
Can I start work before my Home Energy Scotland offer arrives?
No. In Scotland you must receive a written funding offer from Home Energy Scotland before work starts, otherwise the work may not be funded. We plan the installation date only once your offer is confirmed. Funding is first come, first served, so it helps to apply once you have your written quote.
How much is the heat pump grant?
It depends on where you live. In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 towards an air-to-water heat pump, or £9,000 when replacing oil or LPG heating for installations from 21 July 2026 to 31 March 2027. In Scotland, Home Energy Scotland offers up to £7,500, plus a rural uplift and an optional loan. Northern Ireland has no dedicated grant at present.